Submitted by the Help League of Bellingham
Maintaining a healthy diet is the latest philanthropic program of the Help League of Bellingham. It’s designed to reinforce group applications that train youngsters to get pleasure from, put together, and develop wholesome natural meals. This new program happened after a number of years of analysis and dialogue of pressing wants in Whatcom County.
Our authentic aim was to work with and strengthen the prevailing program,
Widespread Threads Farm to assist youngsters whose households couldn’t afford the price of attending their camps. We might additionally give Widespread Threads Farm a portion of our extra donations that could possibly be used for his or her cooking lessons at Whatcom County’s faculties, college gardens, and humanities and crafts supplies for his or her camps.
As with so many different group applications, the COVID virus outbreak and the necessity to restrict social interplay have compelled us to rethink how we will help youngsters expertise the constructive advantages of wholesome consuming. When the WWU Outback Farm, the place the Widespread Threads Farm Camps have been held, needed to shut, we realized that our plan to present camp grants to lower-income households was now not doable. As a substitute, we discovered different methods to assist them. We supplied material face masks for his or her AmeriCorps volunteers and inspired our members to assist keep college gardens in order that the meals produced could possibly be distributed to these in want. Supplies for dwelling actions may be translated if wanted.
Most not too long ago we put collectively 150 “Seize n ‘Go” luggage with child-friendly primary gear for getting ready meals in a service bag from the Help League, with which the youngsters may be despatched dwelling with recent merchandise for his or her households.
JoAnne, the volunteer member helper, fills each buying bag with new objects purchased by the Help League. This features a child-friendly knife, chopping board, peeler, mixing spoon in addition to a plate, cup, spoon and fork.
These “Seize n ‘Go” luggage will probably be distributed to youngsters in want this summer time as a part of the coaching camp actions organized by Widespread Threads Farm. It has been a busy 12 months, however we’re excited to have the ability to assist youngsters study extra about wholesome consuming.
We hope to return to our scholarship program subsequent summer time so that each one Whatcom County youngsters can have the expertise. These scholarships differ from the prevailing Help League of Bellingham Enrichment Scholarship Program in that our Wholesome Consuming Scholarships are needs-based.
Help League of Bellingham is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit group and all funds raised will stay in Whatcom County. Our philanthropic applications are funded by means of the sale of donated objects in our Thrift & Present Store and two main fundraisers.
To seek out out extra about what we’re doing in the neighborhood and what’s highlighted in our store every week, go to Assistanceleague.org/bellingham or observe us on Fb and Instagram.
